Chapter 5 Fives

Although the baron cared about his little girl, he did not forget his junior.Comte de Popinot, Minister of Commerce, was a fine man: he ordered a "Samson" for two thousand francs, on condition that the model be destroyed, that is to say, there would be only one left for him besides that of Mademoiselle Hulot.A prince saw this artwork and appreciated it very much.So, the model of the clock was sent over, and the prince immediately agreed to pay 30,000 francs, but he was not allowed to cast a second one.I asked several artists—Stillman was included—and they all said that they could be the author of these two works, and of course they could also create a portrait.Therefore, the Chairman of the Marshal Montconet Statue Foundation and the Minister of War, Marshal Wissembourg, immediately convened a meeting and decided to hand over the statue project to Earl Steinbuck.Count Rastignac, the undersecretary, also wanted to have a work for this artist who was praised by his peers, so he bought the wonderful statue in which two children crowned a little girl, and promised to display it in the state-run museum on Dashi Street. Give him a workshop in the marble warehouse.

This time he became famous, and the fame in Paris was sensational and intoxicating, and only a strong and honest person could bear it; many people who showed their talents early were overwhelmed by the fame.The newspapers and magazines were talking about Count Sethra Steinbuck, but neither he nor Miss Fischer knew anything about it.Wenceslas would spend an hour or two at the baroness's every day when Bette went out to dine, excluding the days when Bette dined at Hulot's.This has been going on for several days. The baron has confirmed the identity and character of Earl Steinbuck; the baroness is satisfied with his temperament and living habits; If you hesitate any longer, this marriage is already being discussed.As for the artist, of course he was extremely happy; but Madame Maneffe almost spoiled the whole situation by being careless.

Here's the thing: Lisbeth, because the baron wanted her to spend more time with Madame Maneffe, and fortunately there was an eye in this little mansion, who had dined at Valerie's; Valerie also wanted an ear at Hulot's, So I am very flattered to the old girl.She even invited Miss Fischer in advance to drink warm house wine when she moved into the new house.The old girl was very happy to have a place to eat, and she was deceived by Mrs. Maneffe's sweet words, and she actually had feelings for her.None of the people related to her treated her so thoughtfully.Madame Marnever was to Bette, with careful perfunctory, what Bette was to the baroness, M. Rivet, M. Crevel, and all those who entertained her.The Maneffe couple deliberately let Aunt Bei see the hardships of their life in order to earn her sympathy, and as usual exaggerated the suffering: what kind of disease, cheated by friends, hard work, and great sacrifices so that Mrs. Fortin, Valerie's mother, lived comfortably until she died.Complaints like this are too numerous to mention.

"Those wretches!" said Bethe in the presence of her brother-in-law Hulot. "You really ought to care about them. They deserve help, because they are kind and willing to suffer. Three thousand francs is not enough to live on the salary of the deputy chief." Yes; after Marshal de Montconet died, they were in debt! You see how cruel the government is, to teach a civil servant with a wife and son to live in Paris on 2,400 francs!" A young woman, who showed affection to her, told her everything, asked her, flattered her, seemed willing to take her orders, and of course soon became the most confidant of eccentric Aunt Betsey, more than all her relatives. more closely.

As for the Baron, he admired Madame Manefer's decency, her education, her gestures, which Jeanne Cadine, Josepha, and their friends did not have, and within a month he was captivated, triggering the old man's infatuation, The kind of superficially rational but actually absurd feeling.In this woman, indeed, he saw no sarcasm, no drunkenness, no mad waste, no corruption, no contempt for social conventions, no showgirl and showgirl debauchery, which made him repeatedly Unlucky kind of character.At the same time, he also escaped the unsatisfied desires of whores like the long-dried sand.

Mrs. Maneffe has become his confidant and confidant. Even if he sends a little thing, she has to push back and forth before accepting it. "Any position, salary, anything you get from the government is fine; but don't insult a woman you say you love," Valerie said; "otherwise, I won't believe you..." The female Therese squinted her eyes and looked at the sky, glanced at him, and then added: "And I am willing to believe you." Every gift is as troublesome as taking down a fortress or buying a person's conscience.It took all the poor baron's cunning to offer a boring but extremely expensive trinket.He secretly rejoiced that he finally met a virtuous woman and realized his ideal.In this primitive (that is his adjective) domesticity, the Baron is as much a god as in his own home.Mr. Maneffe seems to never have imagined that the gods in his ministry would spend money like water for his women on purpose, so he willingly became a slave for the dignified chief.

Mrs. Marnever, twenty-three years old, a very authentic, daring little jasper, a flower hidden in the rue des régès, of course there will be no indecent behavior of whores, which the baron hates so much now.On the other hand, he hadn't seen the coyness and humor of a good woman, and the timid Valerie gave him a taste of the indifferent and repulsive feeling sung in the song. Since the relationship between the two is like this, it is no wonder that Valerie will learn the news of the marriage between Steinbuck and Otangs from him.Between a lover who has never been a guest and a woman who refuses to be a mistress easily, there will inevitably be some verbal and intrigue disputes, revealing a person's true feelings, just like when practicing fencing, a sword that does not sharpen, It is also as tense as a real knife and gun in a duel.Therefore, a man who is more sophisticated than the world should learn from the famous general de Duranne.Valerie obviously fell in love with the baron, but she said several times:

"I can't figure out how a woman would lose her virginity for a man she can't monopolize." The baron's answer implied that after his daughter was married, he could move freely. He swore repeatedly that he and his wife had been cut off for twenty-five years. "Hmph, everyone says she's very beautiful!" Valerie pointed at him, "I need evidence to believe it." "Okay, I'll give you the proof," said the baron, delighted to hear Valerie say it. "What evidence? It only counts if you never leave me." Speaking of which, Hector Hulot had to tell Valerie about his plan to furnish a house on Feather Street, in order to prove to Valerie that he was going to give her the half time that belonged to the official wife, because the life of a civilized person It is said that the day and night are divided into half and half.He said that after his daughter got married, he would be able to separate from his wife without showing any trace, and let her stay at home alone. The baroness could spend time with her daughter and son-in-law, and he believed that his wife would obey him.

"At that time, my little one, my real life, my real family, was in Feiyu Street." "My God! You have me so well! . . . " said Madame Maneffe. "And what about my husband? . . . " "Is that stinky thing?" "Compared to you, of course!" She replied with a smile. Madame de Manever, after hearing the story of the young Count Steinbuck, was determined to see him; perhaps only to beg him for some trinkets while they still lived in the same house.This curiosity displeased the baron so much that Valerie swore never to look at Wenceslas.For her abandonment of the idea, the Baron gave her a fine tea set from Sèvres as compensation; but her desire remained in her heart, as if on account.Therefore, one day, she invited her aunt Bei to her room for tea, and brought up the topic of Aunt Bei's lover, trying to see if she could see him without causing trouble.

"My darling," she said, as they called each other, "why don't you let me meet your lover? . . . Do you know how quickly he became famous?" "Is he famous?" "Everyone is talking about him! . . . " "Ugh!" Lisbeth snorted. "He wants to carve my father's portrait, and I can very well help him to make his work successful. In 1809, before the battle of Wagram, Saint painted a very handsome young general Montconet. A fine miniature, which I gave to my mother as a reference. Madame de Montcornet could not produce it..." Saint and Augustine were the two masters of miniature painting during the Imperial period.

"My darling, you said he wants to carve a portrait?" Lisbeth asked. "A portrait nine feet high, ordered by the War Department. Ah! What's the matter with you! I told you this news? The government is still going to give Count Steinbuck a workshop and a house in Dashi Street. Your Pole said Maybe I will be the director of the marble warehouse, with a salary of two thousand francs, it is still an idle job..." "I don't know these things, how do you know?" Lisbeth finally woke up from his confusion. "Tell me, dear Aunt Belle," said Mrs. Maneffe, with a coquettish air, "can you be a friend in need? Would you like us to be like sisters? Would you like to swear that neither of us will have anything to do?" To whom? You spy for me, I spy for you?... Will you swear, before my husband, before the baron, that you will never betray me, never say that I told you..." Madame Maneffe stopped the matador thing suddenly, Bate frightened her.The expression of the Lorraine woman became hideous.Black and sharp eyes, staring at people covetously.The face was that of our imaginary witch, her teeth clenched to keep them from chattering, her limbs trembling with terrible convulsions.She put her hands like iron hooks into the hat, grabbed her hair, and supported her heavy head; she was running a fever!The creases on the face were like fissures in the eruption of a volcano, through which a great fire smokes: a thrilling spectacle. "Hey! Why are you silent?" She said in a strange voice; "I will treat you as I did to him. Oh! I would even give him my own blood!..." "Then you love him? . . . " "Love like a son!..." "Ah," Madame Manever breathed a sigh of relief, "since it's this kind of love, you're going to be overjoyed; don't you want him to be happy?" Lisbeth nodded quickly like a madman. "In a month he's going to marry your niece." "Otangs?" She tapped her forehead and stood up. "Ah! ah! you still love him?" "My darling, our friendship is life and death," Bate said. "I think you are sacred and inviolable when you have someone in your heart. I also regard your badness as a virtue. Because I need it." Your bad!" "So you're living with him?" cried Valerie. "No, I just want to be his mother..." "Then I don't understand. According to what you said, people didn't play with you to deceive you; you should be happy to see him get into a good marriage and become famous! And the situation is over, forget it. Our artists, every day As long as you go out to eat, you will go to Madame Hulot's..." "Adeline!" said Lisbeth to herself, "Oh, Adeline, I will take revenge, I will teach you to be uglier than me! . . . " "You see you're dead white!" cried Valerie. "Is there really something wrong? . I kept it from you; but since you didn't live with this young man, I think your behavior is more confused than my husband's heart..." "Oh! You, you don't know what the hell is going on! They've done it to me! Can't I have enough of grief? You don't know, from the time I was conscious , I became Adelina's victim! I was the one who beat me, and she was the one who spoiled her! I dressed like a beggar, she dressed like a queen. I farmed and washed vegetables, she, ten fingers only care for her she married a baron, and came to Paris to show off at the emperor's court, and I stayed in the village until 1809, waiting for a good marriage, and after four years they took me out, but Tell me to work as a female worker, and the relatives are all civil servants, captains, and men who are similar to porters!... In twenty-four years, I have eaten their leftovers!...Now you see, as it says in the "Old Testament" Yes, the poor man's happiness is only one sheep, and the rich man has a flock of sheep, but he is jealous of the poor man's sheep, and steals the poor man's sheep without saying hello or even asking him. Adeline snatched it. My happiness! . . . Adeline! Adeline! I shall see you one day sunk in the mud, deeper than I! . . . I deceived ... and the Baron ... Oh, it's impossible. Come on, tell me again, what is true?" "Calm down, please, my dear..." "Valerie, my little angel, I'll calm down if you give me proof! . . . " The eccentric girl sat down. "That 'Samson' statue is in your niece's, and you see that's the picture of it printed in the magazine; she bought it with her savings, and it's the Baron who put him in the spotlight, who gave everything for his future son-in-law. Got it." Lisbeth glanced at the lithograph, saw the next line: Mademoiselle Hulot de Hervé, and exclaimed: "Cold water! . . . cold water! My head is on fire, I'm going crazy!" Madame Manever brought water; the old girl took off her cap, let go of her black hair, and dipped her head in the water, while her new friend held the basin for her; she dipped her forehead several times before she stopped of congestion.Then, she regained full control. "Don't talk about it," she said to Madame Maneffe, wiping her face. "You can't say a word about these things... You see, I'm well, I've forgotten everything, and I'm thinking about other things." Madame Maneffe looked at Bethe and thought to herself: "Tomorrow she will go to the madhouse, for sure." "What should I do?" Lisbeth said again, "Look, my darling, I can only keep silent, lower my head, and walk into the tomb, as if the water can only flow down. What can I do? I can't wait to put This company, Adeline, her daughter, the baron, all killed! But what can a poor relation do to a rich man?  … This is an old story about smashing an iron can with an earthen jar. " "Yes, you're right," replied Valerie. "We'll have to hug as many haystacks as we can. That's life in Paris." "Well, it's over, I'm going to die soon after losing this boy; I wanted to be his mother forever, and live with him all my life..." With tears in her eyes, she fell silent.Valerie shuddered at the sight of such affection in this vicious, hot girl. "Meeting you in adversity is a little comfort..." She held Valerie's hand and said, "We love each other, how can we break up again? I will never compete with you, and no one will ever fall in love with me Yes!...Those who are willing to take me are just seeking my brother-in-law's help... In terms of courage, I can even climb up to heaven, but where do I spend it? Earn a sip of bread, earn a sip of water, get some rags and clothes A garret! Eh! Yes, my dear, it's martyrdom! I'm so shriveled." She stopped suddenly, and a gloomy gaze fixed on Madame Maneffe's blue eyes, which pierced the pretty woman's heart like a knife.Then she blamed herself again: "Oh, what's the point of mentioning it? I've never said so many words..." She paused for a while, and said with a child's catchphrase: "A liar will lie to himself in the end! You said it well: it's better to sharpen your teeth." Let's try to cuddle on the haystack." "Yes, you are right, my darling," said Madame Maneffe, terrified by her outbursts, and forgot that she had spoken the famous remark herself. "How much life is, let's enjoy it as much as possible, and use others to have fun... I'm young, and I'm already thinking this way! I was spoiled and spoiled when I was young, and my father got married for political ambitions, so he almost forgot about me. She treated my heart and soul like a princess! Poor mother, she was so depressed that she died of depression, because after she taught me so many good dreams, she saw that I married a thirty-nine-year-old, one-thousand-year-old The two-hundred-franc little civil servant, the old, heartless prodigal, the wicked villain, took me as a tool for promotion and wealth, just like you! But at the end, I found that this dirty man was the best husband. He I prefer the ugly women on the street, I am clean. Although his salary is spent by himself, he never asks where my income comes from..." At this point, it was her turn to stop suddenly and keep silent. She noticed that her confidant had slipped her tongue, and noticed that Lisbeth was listening attentively, so she felt that she should ask him more before revealing the last secret. A little guarantee.So she said: "Look, my darling, I believe what you are going to! . . . " Lisbeth immediately made a gesture and taught her to relax a hundred and twenty hearts.An oath that a man swears with his eyes and the movement of his head is often more solemn than an oath taken in court. "On the surface, I am decent in everything," Mrs. Maneffe put her hand on Lisbeth's, as if she could feel more at ease. "I am a formally married woman, absolutely free. If Maneffe goes to work in the morning, He wanted to say hello to me on a whim, and walked away quietly when he saw my door was closed. His affection for children is not as good as I like to play under the two river gods in the Tuileries garden. A child carved out of marble. If I don’t go home to eat at night, he will eat comfortably with the old lady, because the old lady is dedicated to serving the master. After dinner, he goes out and doesn’t come back until midnight or one o’clock. Pity me In other words, I have been a widow for a year... I have only had one love, one happiness... a rich Brazilian who has been away for a year, and I am out of character Well, that's just this one! He went back to sell his property and planned to exchange it for cash and live in Paris. What will become of his Valerie in the future? Well, isn't it just a dump? But that's only his fault, not Blame me, why doesn't he come back? Maybe he's sunk in the ocean, like my chastity." "Goodbye, my darling," Lisbeth said suddenly; "we will never part. I like you, I respect you, and I am your man! My brother-in-law tortured me and asked me to move to the I don't want to go to your new house on Feiyu Street, because I guess his generous intentions..." "Well, you can spy on me, I understand very well." "That's what he means by his generosity," replied Lisbeth. "In Paris, good deeds are mostly speculative, just as ingratitude is mostly vengeful! . Deal with the rats. I will agree to the baron's request. I hate this house. Humph! We are not fools to choose what should be said and hide what is not good for us? ... Therefore, you must not be careless in your words, and our friendship must..." "Don't be afraid of the test!..." Madame Maneffe cried happily, she was very happy to have a self-defense weapon, a confidant, and an honest and reliable aunt. "Tell you, the baron is doing a lot of construction on Feiyu Street..." "Naturally, he's spent thirty thousand francs! I don't know where he got the money, that Josepha who sings has squeezed him dry. Oh! You're in luck. If only his heart would give you these white His slippery little hands caught it, and he would even be a thief for you." "My darling, whatever you need in your new house, feel free to get it in my room..." Mrs. Maneffe said; such a woman's optimism is actually just a muddled intention, "This cabinet has a mirror here. wardrobe, rugs, bed hangings..." Lisbeth's eyes widened with joy, and he couldn't believe that he would get such a gift.she shouted: "You gave me more at once than my rich relatives gave me in thirty years! . I just put on a rich man's grimacing face... Well, thank you, my darling, I will never accept you in vain, just wait and see, and see how I repay you!" Valerie escorted her Aunt Betsy to the landing, and the two embraced. "Pooh! a shabby smell!" thought the pretty woman, as she came back into the house. "I'll never hug her very often, my auntie! But watch out! Treat her well, and she'll make a fortune out of her." In a purely Parisian temper, Madame de Marnever hated hard work; she was as lazy as a cat, and would not run until she had to.In her mind, life should be all about enjoying, and enjoying should be effortless.She likes flowers, as long as someone brings them to her door.She could never have imagined going to the theater without a box to herself, instead of going in a car.The taste of these sluts was acquired by her mother--during the time of General Montconet's stay in Paris, she was extremely favored, and in twenty years many people fell at her feet; After Napoleon stepped down, no one knew about the luxury life show that year.However, the big figures in the imperial era had a carnival scene no less than that of the princes and ministers of the previous dynasty.In the era of the Restoration of the King, the nobles generally remembered the loss and the confiscation of their property, so except for one or two exceptions, they all became frugal, peaceful, and thoughtful. Great style too.Then the revolution of 1830 completed the reforms begun in 1793.Henceforth there are only great names in France, but no great families, unless there is a political change, of which there is no sign yet.Everything is personal.For the most intelligent people, their property is an annuity for life.The family concept is destroyed. The day Valerie hooked (according to Maneffe) the Baron Hulot, the lashes of poverty had already scarred her, and she decided to use her beauty as a tool to hunt for wealth.So in the past few days, she feels that she should learn from her mother and have a loyal friend by her side, who can tell her things that cannot be known to her personal maid, and teach her to move, run, think for us, and be a lifeless woman for us. Resentment, a slave who does not dislike the unevenness of suffering and happiness.The baron wanted her to make friends with Aunt Betty, she could see as well as Auntie Betty.With the frightening intelligence of a Parisian woman, she lay on the couch for hours, searched people's hearts, emotions, and schemes with her faint searchlight, and then figured out how to buy spies and turn them into her own. Party.Ortance's marriage to the artist may have been revealed by her intentionally; she knew the fiery old girl's true character and knew that she had nowhere to vent her enthusiasm, so she wanted to win her over and teach her to get close to herself.The dialogue just now is quite like a tourist looking at a stone dropped in a deep mountain valley and measuring its depth.Madame Maneffe couldn't help being frightened when she found both an Iago and a Richard III character in this apparently timid, humble, and docile girl.Bate returned to his true colors on the spot.The character of the Corsican and the savage, freed from the shackles of fragility, regained its obstinate and haughty attitude, like a twig on a fruit tree, which a child climbs down and up again. The speed, sophistication, and richness of thought of a virgin are always objects of admiration and admiration by social observers. Virginity, like all phenomena that violate human nature, has its special vitality and its all-embracing greatness.In a virgin, the vitality is especially tenacious and long-lasting because it is never consumed.The various functions that have not been touched make his mind extraordinarily full.When such a man uses his body or soul, whether by action or thought, muscle is steel, and wit is conscience.They have demonic powers, or supernatural wills. At this point, the virgin Mary surpasses all Indian, Egyptian, and Greek models in greatness as a symbol alone.Virginity, magnaparensre-rum, holds in pure and beautiful hands the keys of his world.This majestic, majestic, awe-inspiring extraordinary figure is indeed worthy of praise from the old church. So, in an instant, Bate became a Mohican.You cannot escape the traps of the Mohicans, and you cannot guess their deceptions. Their organs are extremely sensitive, so their decisions are extremely quick.She is full of deep hatred, such as the hatred of Italy, Spain, and the nations of the Near East, which absolutely cannot be resolved.Such feuds and feuds, combined with extreme friendship and love, can only be found where the sun shines.But Lisbeth was chiefly a Lorraine woman, capable of deceit. ① Iago is a character in Shakespeare's famous play "Othello", who provokes Othello to kill his wife.Richard III (1452-1485), King of England, killed his brother to stand on his own feet, and is famous in history for his insidious cruelty.Here still refers to Shakespeare's Richard III. ② Latin: the great mother of things. ③The famous novels of American writer Cooper (1789-1851) are cited.The Mohicans are a tribe of North American Indians. They became victims in the war between the British and French colonialists for the Indians' land, and the entire tribe was wiped out. She did not enjoy the next part of the play; it was only through ignorance that she made an outlandish attempt.The imprisonment in her imagination is no different from that of a child, who thinks that imprisonment is the ban on interviews.Little do they know that the prohibition of interviews is the most severe punishment of imprisonment, and the privilege of this punishment belongs to the criminal court. Leaving Mrs. Maneffe's room, Lisbeth rushed to Mr. Rivet and found him in the office. "Well, Monsieur Rivet," she said, putting the bolt on the office door, "you guessed right, those Poles! . . . What a villain . . . "They want to set Europe on fire," said M. Rivet, the Messenger of Peace, "and want to destroy commerce, so that all businesses go bankrupt. For what? For an ugly place full of swamps, full of disgusting Jews, and for what?" There are Cossacks, peasants, and ferocious beasts, who should not be counted as people. These Poles have misunderstood the present era. Well, we are no longer barbarians! My dear lady, the war is over, follow the It’s over with the king. In our era, it’s business, industry, and the wisdom of the middle class that are in power. Isn’t that how Holland sprang up?” The more he talked, the more excited he was, “Yes, we’ve arrived now. In an era, all nationalities should legally exercise their freedom and use the peaceful means of the constitutional system to fight for everything; this is what the Poles don't understand, but I hope..." At this point, he saw the expression of the female worker who didn't understand at all This advanced political theory changed the subject: "Ah, my dear lady, what are you talking about..." "I've brought the papers, and if I don't want to lose my three thousand two hundred and ten francs, the scoundrel must be sent to prison." "Ah! I told you so!" cried the authority of the Saint-Denis district. Rivet's shop, after it was sold to the Pons brothers, has always been open at the old Langeais on the Rue Evil.This house was built by that famous family at a time when all the nobles lived around the Louvre. "That's why I've been blessing you all the way!..." Lisbeth replied. "If you don't give him a little word, he can be locked in at four o'clock tomorrow morning." The business referee flipped through the calendar and checked the time of sunrise; We must serve him the official notice, so..." "It's really confusing the law. Isn't this letting the debtor escape?" "This is his due right," the business referee replied with a smile, "So, let me tell you..." "Oh, I'll deliver the official business," Bate interrupted the referee, "tell him that I want to use a sum of money, and the creditor will handle the formalities. I know the temper of the Poles, and he will keep the official business intact. Pipe!" "Ah! marvelous! marvelous! Miss Fischer! Then you can rest assured that the matter will be settled at once. But take it easy! Putting a man in prison is not enough, we have a luxury in the law." , the purpose is to recover our money. Who will return your money to?" "Whoever gives him money will pay it back." "Ah! Yes, I forgot, the War Department commissioned him to make a statue for one of our regular customers. Scary! How many uniforms have been made by the store for General Montconet, and he was immediately taken to the battlefield to be blackened! What a good man! Never paid the bill It's timeless!" A French marshal, even though he saved the emperor and the country, in the mouth of a businessman, it is a great compliment to pay the bills on time. "Well, then, see you on Saturday, Mr. Rivet, when you treat me to a comfortable meal. Hello, let me tell you, I'm moving from Elder Street to Feather Street." "Very well, you know I hate all things royalist, but it makes me sick to see those ugly places you live in, really! They've insulted the Louvre, they've insulted the parade grounds. I like Louis -Philippe, I adored him, whose dynasty rested on our class, and he was the true and solemn representative of this class, and I will never forget that it was he who restored the National Guard, took care of How much embroidery business has been lost to us..." "Hearing you say that, I wonder why you're not yet an MP," said Lisbeth. "Because I'm afraid I'll be with Louis-Philippe. My political opponents are the current political opponents. Oh! What a noble man he is, and what a wonderful family he has! And," he went on, he continued his pride. "He is our ideal; that habit of living, that frugality, everything! But the completion of the building of the Louvre is one of the conditions for us to bring him to power. Congress has passed the money, but has not stipulated Deadline,--yes, that's true,--so that the heart of our Paris is made into such a disgrace...Because I'm politically centrist, I want the center of Paris to change. Your district It is frightening, sooner or later you will teach others to assassinate... Well, your Mr. Crewell has become the commander of the regiment, but let him take care of us with his broad and large epaulets." "I'm going to eat at his house today, and I'll just pull this business over for you." Lisbeth thought that by cutting off the Livonians from society she could monopolize them.When the artist ceases to work, he is forgotten, buried in a grave, and only she can go to see him in the grave.She enjoyed a good two days, for she hoped that this blow would be a fatal blow to the baroness and her daughter. M. Crewell lives in the Rue de Sausseil, but her route is to cross the Pont des Troupes, take the Avenue Voltaire along the river, the Avenue d'Orsay, the Rue des Hunts, the Rue des Universites, and then turn back and cross the Pont de la Concorde. Marini Street.This extremely illogical route is determined by the logic of lust, and lust always messes with people's legs.Aunt Bei walked very slowly on the riverside boulevard, her eyes were on the other side of the Seine.Her calculations are not bad at all.Wenceslas was supposed to be dressing when she went out, and she expected that he would cut short at the baroness's on the road as soon as she left.Sure enough, just as she was walking along the stone railing of the Avenue Voltaire, with her eyes fixed on the Seine, her body on the right bank and her heart on the left bank, she saw the artist appearing from the iron gate of the Tuileries Garden, looking towards the Royal Bridge. go.Once at the bridge, she followed her lover, without being noticed, for lovers seldom return from an appointment; she followed Hulot's door, and saw him enter with the air of a regular visitor. This last evidence, which corroborated Madame Maneffe's report, drove Lisbeth mad.When she walked to the new head's mansion, she was so angry that she could kill someone.She saw old Crevel waiting for his children, Hulot's son and Hulot's wife, in the drawing room. But Celestin Crevel, the heir of Secha Pirotto, is the most innocent and true representative of the Paris nouveau riche, and we cannot just break into his house.Crevel alone is another world; and he plays an important part in this family drama, so we should pay more attention to it than Rivet. 读者诸君，不知你们曾否发现，在童年或是初见世面的时期，我们往往不知不觉的，自己造好一个模型。一个银行的跑街，走进东家的客厅，就梦想要有一间同样的客厅。如果二十年后他发了财，他在家所撑的考究场面，决不是时行的款式，而是他当年眼热的，过时的那一套。因妒羡往事而造成的种种笑料，我们无法完全知道，也不知道为了这一类暗中的竞争，在模仿偶像、费尽气力做前人影子的时候，闹过多少荒唐的事。克勒韦尔当助理区长，因为从前东家做过助理区长；他当民团团长，因为他看中赛查·皮罗托的肩章。在东家最走运的时代，建筑师葛兰杜奇妙的设计是他惊异赞叹的对象，所以他自己需要装修住宅的时候，就照他自己的说法，当场立刻，打开了钱袋去找葛兰杜，而那时的葛兰杜早已无人请教。这批过时的红艺术家靠落伍的信徒支持，不知还有多少时候好混。 葛兰杜的客厅装饰，是千篇一律的白漆描金，大红绸糊壁，他替克勒韦尔设计的当然不能例外。紫檀木家具的雕工，全是大路货的，没有一点儿细巧的感觉；所以从工业展览会的时代起①，巴黎的出品就比不上外省。烛台、椅子的靠手、火炉前面的铁栏、吊烛台、座钟、全是路易十五时代的岩洞式。呆呆板板放在屋子正中的圆桌，嵌着各式各种的意大利白石，这类罗马制造的矿物标本，象裁缝的样子板一样，叫克勒韦尔所请的中产阶级的客人来一次赞一次。护壁板上挂有四幅画像，是克勒韦尔的、故世的克勒韦尔太太的、女儿和女婿的，都是在中产阶级里走红的画家皮埃尔·格拉苏的手笔；他把克勒韦尔不伦不类的画成拜伦姿势。一千法郎一个的画框，和这些咖啡馆式的、真正艺术家见了摇头的富丽排场，刚刚合适。 ①大概是指一七九七年第一届工业展览会。 有钱的人从来不肯错过一个表现俗气的机会。如果我们的退休商人，能象意大利人那样天生的知道什么叫做伟大，巴黎今天连十座威尼斯都能造起。就在现代，一个米兰商人还会在遗产中捐五十万法郎给米兰天主教堂，替穹窿顶上巨型的圣母像装金。卡诺伐在遗嘱上写明，要他的兄弟造一座价值四百万的教堂，而兄弟自己又捐上一笔。一个巴黎的中产阶级，（而他们都象里韦一样打心眼里爱他们的巴黎）会不会想到在圣母院塔上添补钟楼？可是没人承继而归给政府的遗产有多少，你们算一算吧。十五年来，克勒韦尔之流为了硬纸板的墙壁、金漆的石膏、冒充的雕刻等等所花的代价，可以把美化巴黎的工事全部完成。 客厅尽头是一间华丽的小书房，桌子柜子都是仿的市勒①的紫檀雕工。 ①布勒（1624—1732），著名木器细木工，精于金属和贝壳镶嵌。 全部波斯绸糊壁的卧房，也通连客厅。饭厅内摆着耀眼的胡桃木家具，壁上华丽的镜框内，嵌着瑞士风景画。克勒韦尔老头一直梦想要游历瑞士，未去之前，他先要在画上享受一番。 由此可见，克勒韦尔，前任助理区长，受过勋，民团上尉，把他倒霉东家①的大场面，如法泡制的再来一遍，连家具都一模一样。王政复辟时代，一个倒了下去，一个无声无臭的家伙爬了起来，并非由于命运的播弄，而是由于时势的必然。在革命中，好象在海洋上的大风暴中一样，凡是实质的都沉到了底下，凡是轻飘的都给浪潮卷到了面上。赛查·皮罗托，保王党，得势而被人艳羡的人物，做了中产阶级的枪靶，而胜利的中产阶级便在克勒韦尔身上扬眉吐气。 ①即赛查·皮罗托，《赛查·皮罗托盛衰记》中的主人公。 这所租金三千法郎的公寓，堆满了凡是金钱所能买到的、恶俗的漂亮东西，坐落在一所旧宅子的二层楼上，在院子与花园之间。屋内一切都保存得象昆虫学家搜集的标本，因为克勒韦尔是不大住在这里的。 这个华丽的宅子，仅仅是野心的中产者的法定住址。他雇了一个厨娘，一个当差。逢到请客，——或是为了联络政治上的朋友，或是为了向某些人摆阔，或是为了招待家族，——他便向舍韦酒家叫菜，并且添两名临时工人。克勒韦尔真正的生活场所，是爱洛伊丝·布里斯图小姐的家。她以前住在洛雷特圣母院街，后来搬到绍沙街，那是上文提过的。每天早上，退休商人（所有在家享福的中产者都喜欢自称为退休商人）在索塞伊街办两小时公事，余下的时间都去陪他的情妇，使她暗中叫苦。克勒韦尔跟爱洛伊丝小姐有固定契约，她每个月要供应他五百法郎的幸福，不得有误。至于克勒韦尔吃的饭，和一应额外开支，都由他另外给钱。这种有奖契约，——因为他送礼送得不少——对于名歌女约瑟法的前任情人，不失为一个经济办法。有些鳏居的商人老在牵挂女儿的财产，克勒韦尔跟他们提到续娶问题，总说自备牲口远不如包月租现成的上算。可是绍沙街的门房告诉男爵的话，证明克勒韦尔对于租来的马，并不计较马夫或跟班之流占用。 由此可见克勒韦尔的不续弦，嘴里说是为了女儿，实际是为了寻欢作乐的方便。他不三不四的行为，有一套仁义道德的理由做辩护。何况老花粉商在这种生活中（迫不得已的、放浪形骸的、摄政时期式的、蓬巴杜式的、黎塞留式的生活），还能够显显他阔绰的场面。克勒韦尔自命为眼界开阔、头脑开通的人，自认为慷慨豪爽，不花大钱的阔佬，——扮这些角色所花的全部代价，每个月不过一千二到一千五百法郎。这并非他玩什么虚伪的手段，而仅仅是中产阶级的虚荣心作怪；虚伪也罢，虚荣也罢，结果总是一样。在交易所里，大家认为克勒韦尔了不起，尤其是一个会享福的快活人。 在这一点上，克勒韦尔自认为大大的超过了皮罗托老头。 “哼，”克勒韦尔一看见贝姨就生气，“是你替于洛小姐做的媒吗？那个青年伯爵，你是为了她培养起来的吗？……” “怎么，这件事好象教你生气似的？”李斯贝特尖利的眼睛直瞪着克勒韦尔，“你有什么好处要我的姨甥嫁不掉？据说她跟勒巴先生儿子的亲事是你给破坏了的？……” “你是一个老成的好姑娘，对你不妨明说。你想，于洛先生把我的约瑟法抢了去，这种罪过我肯饶他吗？尤其是把一个规规矩矩的女人，我老来要正式娶她的女人，变做一个小淫妇，一个小丑，一个唱戏的！……哼，饶他！万万不能！……” “他可是一个好人哪，于洛先生，”贝特说。 “好，好得不能再好了！”克勒韦尔回答，“我不想难为他； 可是我要回敬他，一定的。这个主意我决不动摇！ ..." “敢情是为了这个，你不上于洛夫人家去的？” “也许……” “哎！那么你是在追求我的堂姊喽？”李斯贝特笑着说。 “我本来有点疑心呢。” “她把我看得比狗都不如，当我坏蛋，甚至当我大逆不道！”他把拳头敲敲自己的脑门，“可是我一定成功。” “可怜他丢了一个情妇，再要陪上一位太太，真是吃不消的！……” “约瑟法吗？”克勒韦尔叫起来，“约瑟法不要他了？把他撵走了？赶跑了？……好啊，约瑟法！约瑟法，你替我报了仇！我要送你一对珠耳环，我的旧情人！……这些我全不知道。美丽的阿黛莉娜约我到她家里去了一次，下一天我见到你，随后我上科尔贝的勒巴家住了几天，今儿刚回来。爱洛伊丝闹脾气，硬逼我下乡，我知道她不要我参加绍沙街的温居酒，她要招待那般艺术家、戏子、文人……我上了当！可是我原谅她，因为爱洛伊丝真有意思，象那个唱戏的德雅泽①。这孩子刁钻古怪，好玩极了！你看，这是我昨天晚上收到的字条。 ①十九世纪喜剧女演员，曾经红极一时。 '我的好人哪，绍沙街上的营帐搭好了，我招了一班朋友把新屋子的潮气吸干了。everything is fine.你随时可以来。夏甲等着她的亚伯拉罕。 '① ①夏甲是圣经故事中的埃及女奴，亚伯拉罕的宠妾，后为元配撒拉所逐。 “爱洛伊丝会告诉我许多新闻，她一肚子都是那些浪子的故事。” “我姊夫倒了霉，可并不在乎呢，”贝姨回答说。 “不可能。”克勒韦尔象钟摆似的踱步突然停了下来。 “于洛先生上了年纪啦，”李斯贝特狡猾的提了他一句。 “我知道；可是咱们俩有一点相象的地方：于洛没有私情就过不了日子。”他又自言自语的说：“他可能回头去爱他的妻子，那对他倒是新鲜味儿，可是我的仇报不成了……—— 你笑呢，斐歇尔小姐……啊！你有些事情瞒着我！ ..." “我在笑你的念头，”李斯贝特回答，“是的，我的堂姊还很漂亮，还能教男人动心；我要是男人，我就会爱她。” “江山易改，本性难移！你拿我开心，哼！男爵一定另有新欢了。” 李斯贝特点了点头。 “啊！他交了什么运，要不了一天功夫就找到了约瑟法的替身！”克勒韦尔接着说，“可是我不奇怪，有一天咱们一块吃宵夜，他告诉我，他年轻时候，为不至于落空，经常有三个情妇，一个是他正预备丢掉的，一个是当令的，一个是为了将来而正在追求的。他准有什么风骚的女工预先养好在那里，在他的鱼塘里，在他的鹿苑里！他完全是路易十五派头，这家伙！噢！天生他美男子多运气！可是他也老了，已经有了老态……他大概是搅上了什么做工的小姑娘。” “噢！不是的。” “呃！怎么样我都不能让他成功！我没有办法把约瑟法抢回来，这一类的女子永远不肯吃回头草、迁就她第一个爱人的。可是贝姨，我肯花到五万法郎，抢掉这个美男子的情妇，我要向他证明，一个肚子好当团长，脑袋好当巴黎市长的老头儿，决不让人家白白拐走他女人……” “我的地位只许我听，不许我说，”贝特回答，“你跟我谈话尽可以放心，我决不泄漏一个字。干吗你要我改变这种作风呢？那就没有一个人相信我了。” “我知道，你是一个顶好的老姑娘……可是告诉你，事情也有例外的。譬如说，他们从来没有定期给你什么津贴……” “我有我的傲气，不愿意白受人家的钱。” “嗳，要是你帮我出气，我就替你存一万法郎的终身年金。好姨子，约瑟法的替身是谁，只要你说给我听了，你的房租、你的早点、你多喜欢的咖啡，统统就有了着落，你可以享受地道的莫卡咖啡①……嗯？嗯？真正的莫卡咖啡多香噢！” ①原产于阿拉伯的上等咖啡。 “虽说你一万法郎的终身年金每年有五百法郎利息，我觉得还是人家对我的信任要紧；因为你瞧，克勒韦尔先生，男爵对我挺好，要代我付房租咧……” “哼，能有多久噢。你等着瞧吧。男爵哪儿来的钱？” “那我不知道。可是他花了三万多装修新屋，给那位好出身的小太太……” “好出身！怎么，还是一个上流社会的女人？坏蛋，他倒得意啦！怎么就轮到他一个人？” “一个有夫之妇，极上等的，”贝姨又说。 “真的？”克勒韦尔一方面动了欲火，一方面听到上等女人这几个奇妙的字，睁大了眼睛，放出光来。 “真的；又会音乐，又是多才多艺，二十三岁，脸蛋儿又俏又天真，皮肤白得耀眼，一副牙齿象小狗的，一对眼睛象明星，一个美丽无比的额角……一双小巧玲珑的脚，我从来没有见过，不比她束腰的那片鲸鱼骨大。” “耳朵呢？”克勒韦尔听到人家描写色情的部份，马上兴奋得了不得。 “上谱的，”她回答。 “是不是小手？……” “告诉你，一句话说尽，这是女人之中的珍珠宝贝，而且那么端庄，那么贞洁，那么温存！……一个美人，一个天使，雍容华贵，无美不备，因为她的父亲是一个法国元帅……” “法国元帅！”克勒韦尔提高了嗓子直跳起来。“天哪！该死！混账！……啊！下流坯！——对不起，贝姨，我气坏了！ ……我愿意出十万法郎，我相信……” “是啊，我告诉你那是一个规矩的、正派的女人。所以男爵着实花了一笔钱。” “他一个钱都没有啦……我告诉你。” “可是他把她丈夫捧上去啦……” “捧到哪儿？”克勒韦尔苦笑着问。 “已经提升了副科长，还要得十字勋章，做丈夫的还会不巴结吗？” “哼，政府应当留点儿神，不能滥发勋章，污辱我们已经受过勋的人，”克勒韦尔忽然动了义愤。“可是他怎么能够左右逢源，这个讨厌的老男爵？我觉得我也不见得比他差呀，”他照着镜子，摆好了姿势。“爱洛伊丝常常说我了不起，而且在女人们决不撒谎的时候说的。” “噢！”贝特回答说，“女人是喜欢胖子的，他们多半心地好。在你跟男爵之间，我，我是挑你的。于洛先生很风雅，生得漂亮，有气派；可是你呀，你生得结实，而且，呕……你似乎比他更坏！” “真是奇怪，所有的女人，连那些虎婆都是喜欢坏男人的！”克勒韦尔嚷着，得意忘形的走过来搂着贝姨的腰。 “问题不在这里，”贝特接着说，“要明白一个女人到手了那么些好处，决不肯为了区区小惠就欺骗她的保护人的；代价恐怕不是十几万法郎的事，因为这位小太太的丈夫两年之内会升做科长……可怜的小天使是为了穷才跳火坑的……” 克勒韦尔在客厅里踱来踱去，暴躁得不得了。他不做声，可是他的欲火受了李斯贝特的挑拨，简直坐立不安。这样的过了一会，他说： “那么他对这个女人是割舍不得的了？” “你自己去想罢！”李斯贝特回答，“据我看，他还没有搅上手！”她把大拇指扳着大白门牙，得的一声，响了一下。 “可是已经送了一万法郎的礼。” “噢！要是我能够赶在他前面，倒是一出好戏！” “天哪！我真不应该对你多嘴的，”李斯贝特装做后悔的神气。 “不，我要教你那些亲属丢脸。明儿我替你存一笔终身年金，五厘利，你一年好有六百法郎进款，可是我意中人的姓名、住址、一切、你都得告诉我。我从来不曾有过一个上等女人，我平生大志就是想见识见识。穆罕默德天堂上的美女，比起我想象之中的上等女人，简直谈不上。总之，这是我的理想、我的痴情、痴情到觉得于洛太太永远不会老，”他这么说着，不知他这一套居然和十八世纪的风流思想暗合。“喂，李斯贝特，我决定牺牲十万二十万的……啊！孩子们来了，他们正从院子里走进来。你告诉我的，我只做不知道，我可以对你赌咒，因为我不愿意男爵疑心你……这个女人，他一定喜欢得要命罗，我那老伙计！” “吓！他魂都没有了！”贝特说，“他没有办法搅四万法郎嫁女儿，为了这次私情却容容易易的张罗了来。” “你觉得那女人喜欢他吗？” “他这种年纪！……”老姑娘回答。 “噢！我真糊涂！我自己就答应爱洛伊丝养着一个艺术家，象亨利四世允许他的情妇加布里埃尔跟贝勒加德私通。唉！一个人就怕老！老！——你好，赛莱斯蒂纳，你好，我的贝贝；小娃娃呢？——啊！在这里！真是，他慢慢的在象我了。—— 好哇，于洛，你好哇？咱们家里又要多一头亲事啦。 " 赛莱斯蒂纳和丈夫一齐望着李斯贝特对克勒韦尔递了个眼色，然后假惺惺的回答： "who?" 克勒韦尔装做会心的神气，表示他虽然多了一句嘴，他会挽救的。He said: “奥棠丝的喽，可是还没有定局。我才从勒巴家回来。有人替包比诺小姐提亲，说给咱们那个巴黎大理院法官，他很想到外省去当院长呢……呕，咱们吃饭罢。”